Written Answers Wednesday 19 January 2011

Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to the Scottish Ambulance Service in relation to the operation of the patient transport service.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it issues to the Scottish Ambulance Service in relation to the operation of the patient transport service.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how and (b) how often it monitors the performance of the Scottish Ambulance Service patient transport service.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been necessary to take any action to address deficiencies in the operation of the Scottish Ambulance Service patient transport service in the last five years and, if so, whether it will detail the action taken.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is content with the performance of the Scottish Ambulance Service patient transport service in relation to ensuring that patients are (a) delivered punctually for and (b) picked up punctually following appointments.

Nicola Sturgeon: The operation of the patient transport service (PTS) is the responsibility of the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), the Scottish Government does not issue specific guidance to the service. However, Scottish Government ministers and officials are in regular dialogue with the service about a range of issues, including the operation of the PTS.

  The operation of the Patient Transport Service forms part of the agenda for the public annual review held each year, and the areas of discussion and actions arising are set out in the follow up letter to the board chair. The 2010 letter and letters for previous years are also available at http://www.scottishambulance.com/AboutUs/Howweareperforming/AnnualReview.aspx.

  As part of the Local Delivery Plan (LDP) process the SAS agrees its annual performance targets with the Scottish Government. The SAS LDP for 2010-11 (Health Plan) and LDPs for previous years can be found at http://www.scottishambulance.com/AboutUs/Default.aspx. This includes targets for the PTS, performance against these is regularly reported to the SAS Board and the Scottish Government. SAS Board papers are available on their website.

  The PTS provides a vital service for those patients with a medical need for transport. Both the Scottish Government and the Scottish Ambulance Service appreciate the importance of each and every journey and that is why we are committed to securing continuous improvement. We have both been frank in the past about the need for focus on improving the Patient Transport Service and have acknowledged that the service does not always meet the expectations of patients. That is why the Scottish Ambulance Service Strategic Framework Working together for better patient care 2010 – 2015 sets out the service vision for the scheduled care service (PTS), this vision is underpinned by a series of actions being progressed by Scheduled Service Programme Board. Information about the strategic framework can be found at:

  http://www.scottishambulance.com/AboutUs/Strategicframework.aspx.

  The service has now completed a Scheduled Care Accelerated Demonstrator Project (ADP) agreed as part of the SAS Learn and Improve project. The findings indicate that the programme appears to have significant potential to deliver substantial quality improvement and efficiency benefits through supporting service teams to improve the quality of service delivery and thus directly or indirectly benefiting patient care. The project has identified 11 improvement opportunities with the potential to:

  Significantly improve the PTS profile as a clinically focussed service by the consistent application of clinical criteria as a pre-requisite for accessing transport.

  Significantly improve and increase the service’s ability to signpost patients to alternative transport providers where ambulance transport is not required.

  Significantly reduce inappropriate demand on the service by standardising systems and processes.

  Significantly improve productivity and the utilisation of existing resources by consistently applying good practice, improving communications and making best use of available technology.

Ambulance Service

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38443 by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 January 2011, on how many occasions in relation to the calls listed the Scottish Ambulance Service (a) recorded that Naloxone had been administered and (b) administered Naloxone on attending.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Ambulance Service have advised that Naloxone was administered to patients 44 times in 2008 and 44 times in 2009. The administration of Naloxone by ambulance crews is always recorded on the patient record.

Ambulance Service

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost was of an emergency ambulance call out in the East Central division of the Scottish Ambulance Service area in 2009-10.

Nicola Sturgeon: The average cost of an emergency ambulance in 2009-10 in East Central division of the Scottish Ambulance Service was £263.24. This, and a range of other information relating to the cost of ambulance activity, is published annually in the ISD Scotland Cost Book . This information can be found at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/costs-overview.jsp?pContentID=3726&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&.

Ambulance Service

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many emergency incidents in the NHS Tayside area ambulances attended in 2009-10.

Nicola Sturgeon: There were 41,630 emergency ambulance incidents in the NHS Tayside area in 2009-10 and this includes all categories of response. This, and a range of other information related to the performance of the Scottish Ambulance Service, is published in their annual report. The 2009-10 report can be found at http://www.scottishambulance.com/AboutUs/Default.aspx .

Communities

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been allocated to each local authority area under the CashBack for Communities programme since the inception of the scheme, also broken down by year.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not hold the amount allocated broken down by each local authority except for the funding given to Youthlink Scotland, which is broken down in this way for each year. The following table sets out the amounts administered by Youthlink Scotland since 2007 within each local authority. However, as from 1 April 2011 we will be collecting this information from all CashBack partners, which will allow allocations to be shown by each local authority.

  To date the Scottish Government has committed to invest £24 million in the CashBack for Communities programme which includes diversionary and participatory projects for young people across Scotland, and in a wide range of projects.

  So far over 300,000 young people participate in CashBack for Communities activities.

  Cashback for Communities Youth Work Fund, Summary of Awards by Local Authority in Each Funding Round at 17 January 2011

  

LA NO
LA
Round 1 Awards Total
Round 2 Awards Total
Round 3 Awards Total
Round 4 Phase 1 Awards Total
LA Total Awards


1
Aberdeen
£24,966.00
£63,525.00
£33,623.00
£47,808.00
£169,922.00


2
Aberdeenshire
£28,620.00
£52,379.56
£56,987.00
£37,576.00
£175,562.56


3
Angus
£7,200.00
£35,800.00
£22,501.00
£8,731.00
£74,232.00


4
Argyll and Bute
£40,000.00
Nil
£21,474.00
£19,880.00
£81,354.00


5
Clackmannanshire
Nil
£40,000.00
£9,721.00
£19,904.00
£69,625.00


6
Dumfries and Galloway
£9,565.00
£51,435.00
£39,662.00
£36,282.00
£136,944.00


7
Dundee 
£79,532.00
£42,468.00
£27,405.00
£71,349.00
£220,754.00


8
East Ayrshire
Nil
£82,000.00
£23,059.00
£12,949.00
£118,008.00


9
East Dunbartonshire
£12,692.00
£26,307.86
£19,591.00
Nil
£58,590.86


10
East Lothian
£31,000.00
Nil
£18,983.00
£17,094.00
£67,077.00


11
East Renfrewshire
Nil
£34,301.74
£17,077.00
£15,256.00
£66,634.74


12
Edinburgh
£176,383.00
£43,617.00
£71,185.00
£79,581.00
£370,766.00


13
Falkirk
Nil
£68,975.00
£27,829.00
£18,401.00
£115,205.00


14
Fife
£71,522.00
£113,478.00
£72,928.00
£25,974.00
£283,902.00


15
Glasgow
£103,711.00
£576,259.00
£131,558.00
£70,667.00
£882,195.00


16
Highland
£72,751.00
£11,249.00
£49,854.00
£5,000.00
£138,854.00


17
Inverclyde
£13,659.00
£69,341.00
£15,739.00
£15,041.00
£113,780.00


18
Midlothian
£8,132.00
£24,867.00
£15,438.00
£22,471.00
£70,908.00


19
Moray
£22,146.00
£4,854.00
£18,941.00
£11,000.00
£56,941.00


20
North Ayrshire
£4,057.00
£89,870.95
£28,215.00
£29,410.00
£151,552.95


21
North Lanarkshire
£224,000.00
Nil
£61,468.00
£80,329.00
£365,797.00


22
Orkney Islands
£4,445.00
£5,555.00
£5,296.00
£4,925.00
£20,221.00


23
Perth and Kinross
£30,091.00
£20,867.20
£29,689.00
£15,859.00
£96,506.20


24
Renfrewshire
Nil
£100,000.00
£30,952.00
£21,524.00
£152,476.00


25
Scottish Borders
£30,429.00
£6,571.00
£24,036.00
£15,603.00
£76,639.00


26
Shetland Islands
Nil
£10,000.00
£6,320.00
Nil
£16,320.00


27
South Ayrshire
Nil
£49,999.61
£30,015.00
£24,532.00
£104,546.61


28
South Lanarkshire
£144,698.00
£31,302.00
£58,527.00
£41,459.00
£275,986.00


29
Stirling
Nil
£40,000.00
£14,776.00
£15,390.00
£70,166.00


30
West Dunbartonshire
£42,548.00
£39,452.00
£17,672.00
£9,822.00
£109,494.00


31
West Lothian
£12,600.00
£58,388.37
£42,624.00
£32,477.00
£146,089.37


32
Western Isles
£4,920.00
£5,080.00
£7,284.00
£7,284.00
£24,568.00


 
Round Totals
£1,199,667.00
£1,797,943.29
£1,050,429.00
£833,578.00
£4,881,617.29

Council Tax

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the forthcoming Council Tax (Discounts) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2011 can make it possible for students, including those who take non-traditional routes to university, to benefit equally from council tax discounts and, if so, whether it plans to use these powers to do so.

John Swinney: All students who meet the relevant qualifying criteria will be eligible for an exemption from council tax charges and thus will benefit equally.

Council Tax

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on students taking a non-traditional route toward a degree qualification and who move from one institution to another over a summer break benefiting from the same council tax discounts during the summer as other students.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is supportive of students accessing education through all routes. Students leaving one institution before enrolling at another to commence further studies are not deemed to be students during that period. Consequently, they may be liable to council tax. However, where they are liable, they may be eligible for council tax benefit of up to 100% to help pay their council tax bill.

Defence

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the retention of the RAF bases at Lossiemouth and Kinloss in light of the impact of the possible closures on the local communities.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government views the retention of the RAF bases at Lossiemouth, Kinloss and Leuchars as an issue of national importance. We have been pressing the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for clarity on the future direction of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), in order to ensure that robust representations are both developed and made to the UK Government in advance of any detailed decisions being taken in respect of any of the RAF bases in Scotland.

  On 27 October 2010, the First Minister requested an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State for Defence to discuss the SDSR implications for Scotland. The First Minister met with the Secretary of State for Defence on 11 January 2011 where he pressed the Secretary of State for clarity on the timing and scope of the base review; for engagement with potentially affected communities to ensure that socio economic impacts of any changes can be properly assessed and submitted to the MoD prior to any decision; and for the UK Government to recognise its role in supporting communities that may be affected by the bases review.

Defence

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Moray Task Force to discuss the campaign to retain the RAF bases at Lossiemouth and Kinloss.

Jim Mather: The First Minister last met with members of the Moray Task Force by videoconference on 7 December 2010 to discuss the campaign to retain the RAF bases at Lossiemouth and Kinloss in light of the potential threat posed to their future by the UK Government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Digital Technology

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to assess the risk to it and its agencies from (a) cybercrime and (b) cyber attack.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government ICT network is connected to the Government Secure Intranet (GSI) and complies with the requirements for GSI accreditation. Risk assessment of the GSI is carried out by CESG, the national technical authority for information assurance. The Scottish Government has also carried out risk assessments of ICT systems against a range of threats.

  The Scottish Government has adopted the Cabinet Office Security Policy Framework (SPF), which provides technical standards, policy and guidance for security and information assurance, and is implementing its requirements, including risk assessment. The SPF also applies to Scottish Government agencies.

Digital Technology

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHSScotland undertakes or is planning to undertake contracts for cloud computing and, if so, with what companies.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHSScotland is monitoring the development of cloud services but has no current plans to let national contracts for cloud-based services at this time.

Disabled People

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has with Work Choice, the supported employment scheme for disabled people.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has worked closely with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on the development of its Work Choice programme for disabled people. My officials will continue to liaise with DWP, Jobcentre Plus and other partners including the Prime Providers, Shaw Trust and Momentum Ltd., on the rollout of Work Choice and will monitor the impact on disabled people in Scotland.

Economy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it had with the retail sector in November 2010 and what issues were discussed.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it had with the retail sector in December 2010 and what issues were discussed.

Jim Mather: Ministers and officials regularly speak to, meet and correspond with a range of individual retailers and business organisations, such as the Scottish Retail Consortium, as part of ongoing engagement with sectors of the economy. In November 2010, there were several meetings where issues such as business rates and the economy were discussed.

Electricity

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has undertaken of the recent decision in the Netherlands to require undergrounding of all new high electromagnetic field power lines proposed within 300 metres of habitations, in light of the number of habitations within 300 metres of the proposed Beauly to Denny power line route.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government maintains an interest in any relevant policy development in Europe and beyond. We have read the recent decision in the Netherlands with interest and note the reasons for this "Exchange Principle" as offering the opportunity to reduce the potential environmental impact in urban areas, reduce the impact on nature and improve the landscape. The development of Scotland’s electricity infrastructure is a matter for Scottish ministers.

Employment

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the number of jobs created by retailers since 2007.

Jim Mather: There is no information held centrally on the number of jobs created in Scotland. However, data are available on the net change in jobs over time. Data on the number of workforce jobs by broad sector are available on a quarterly basis. Table 1 shows the number of workforce jobs in wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles.

  Table 1: Workforce Jobs, Scotland, Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles

  

Date
Jobs


2007Q1
378,000


2007Q2
379,300


2007Q3
382,500


2007Q4
391,700


2008Q1
390,800


2008Q2
394,900


2008Q3
392,600


2008Q4
381,000


2009Q1
383,700


2009Q2
388,100


2009Q3
387,800


2009Q4
382,100


2010Q1
358,400


2010Q2
359,400


2010Q3
355,300



  Source: Office for National Statistics, Workforce Jobs.

  Note: Data are seasonally adjusted and rounded to the nearest 100.

Energy

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what Scotland’s energy demand was on each day from 25 November to 9 December 2010 and what percentage of the energy for this period was provided by wind power.

Jim Mather: The information requested is not held centrally. Annual figures for electricity demand and generation by renewables in Scotland are published on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Environment/seso/Q/TID/18.

  In 2009, the most recent year for which statistics are held, wind and wave power generated the equivalent of 11.6% of Scotland’s gross electricity consumption. This represents an increase of 3.5 percentage points from 2008, where wind and wave power alone was equivalent to 8.15% of Scotland’s gross electricity consumption.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the need for the (i) environmental assessment of plans, programmes and strategies and (ii) habitats regulations assessment of plans.

John Swinney: In 2010, discussions were held between the Scottish Government’s SEA Gateway and Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the need for environmental assessment of the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP).

  A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) was undertaken of the short-term and medium-term sites (20 in total) included in the N-RIP. The environmental report and the Stage 2 N-RIP report were published for public consultation in September 2010, for a period of 10 weeks.

  A Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) of the N-RIP is currently underway and is due to report in January 2011.

General Practitioners

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many GP practices used premium rate telephone numbers as of 1 November 2010, broken down by NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: As of 1 November 2010, 40 GP practices were using premium rate telephone numbers. This represents around 4% of the total GP practices in Scotland. The geographic breakdown across health board area is detailed in the following table.

  

Health Board
Number


Ayrshire and Arran
4


Borders
0


Dumfries and Galloway
0


Fife
1


Forth Valley
1


Grampian
20


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
4


Highland
3


Lanarkshire
3


Lothian
4


Orkney
0


Shetland
0


Tayside
0


Western Isles
0


Total
40



  Note: Not all 084 telephone numbers are charged at a premium rate. Callers using BT landlines are charged at local rates. Mobile and other landline providers normally charge premium rates to 084 numbers.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the impact of obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38376 on 17 January 2011 All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  The Scottish Sleep Forum’s report on obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome gives a very clear account of the consequences the condition can have on people’s daily functioning and quality of life.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the recommendations of the Scottish Sleep Forum report on obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome that was published in September 2010.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38376 on 17 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  The Scottish Government Health Directorates are currently discussing implementation of the report with the respiratory Managed Clinical Networks National Advisory Group.

Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many residents are in the catchment area of each medical centre in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not available centrally in the form requested. However, information about general practices in Scotland and on the number of patients which they serve is available on a website maintained by the Information and Statistics Division of NHS National Services Scotland and can be accessed at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/3793.html .

Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive where residents of Newton Mearns must attend to receive each service normally provided at a medical centre.

Nicola Sturgeon: There are four GP Practices in the Newton Mearns area. These are Dr Quinn & Ptns, Mearns Medical Centre, 13 Maple Avenue, G77; Dr Haughney & Ptn, 257 Mearns Road, G77; Dr Arfan & Ptn, Crookfur Medical Practice, 3 Corrour Road, G77; Dr Tobias, 3 Elmwood Avenue, G77.

Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the provision of a medical centre for Newton Mearns.

Nicola Sturgeon: The provision of new primary care premises is a matter for the GP practice and for the NHS board concerned, in the context of its overall priorities. The Scottish Government is in regular contact with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in respect of its overall infrastructure plans including primary care premises.

Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received calling for a medical centre for Newton Mearns.

Nicola Sturgeon: A parliamentary motion S3M-5528 was lodged on 14 January 2010 and a copy of a press release issued by Newton Mearns Community Council supporting the motion was received on 19 January 2010.

Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to provide a medical centre for Newton Mearns.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been carrying out a number of asset management surveys in relation to the independent GP contractor estate within the boundaries of the board’s responsibilities. It is anticipated that these surveys will identify priority areas for investment subject to agreement with the board, GMS Steering Group and Community Health Partnership/Community Health and Care Partnerships.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18514 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 December 2008, how many prescriptions for antibiotics were issued in 2008-09.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of prescribed items for antibiotics for the year ended 31 March 2009 was 4,434,236. This relates to items dispensed in the community by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors but does not include medicines dispensed in hospitals or hospital-based clinics.

  This information has been provided by NHS National Services Scotland. Further information on antibiotic prescribing can be found at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/6125.html.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether health technology assessments have been carried out on any commercially available predictive genetic tests.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has not commissioned any health technology assessments on commercially available predictive genetic tests.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the provision of acute pain services in light of the report by the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death, An Age Old Problem: A review of the care received by elderly patients undergoing surgery .

Nicola Sturgeon: Although it operates UK-wide the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death reports do not normally cover Scotland as such work is undertaken by the Scottish Audit of Surgical Mortality. This report covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. However, we will consider any relevant learning for NHSScotland.

  The provision of acute pain services by the NHS in Scotland has been the subject of reviews by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, against the clinical standards for anaesthesia. The most recent of these was published in September 2010 and found that the delivery of acute pain services had improved from the previous review in 2005, albeit with scope for further improvement.

  NHS boards are expected to have due regard to these findings in order to improve the quality of the service they provide. This reflects the ambitions in the Healthcare Quality Strategy for NHSScotland of safe, effective and person-centred care for every patient.

Illegal Money Lending

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been received by the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit in each year since 2004.

Alex Neil: The funding of the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit is a matter for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

Illegal Money Lending

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff have been employed by the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit in each year since 2004.

Alex Neil: The staffing of the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit is a matter for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

Illegal Money Lending

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in access to police intelligence by the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit since 2007.

Alex Neil: There have been no changes in Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit access to police intelligence since 2007. An Information Sharing Protocol between Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland and the Society of Chief Trading Standards Officers in Scotland (which would cover the Illegal Money Lending Unit) has been established and will greatly facilitate the future exchange of information between the unit and the police.

Justice

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many vandalism charges have been dealt with out of court in each year since 2007, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Frank Mulholland: The following table shows the number of charges under the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, Section 52(1) which were reported to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in the last three financial years, and which were dealt with by "direct measures."

  "Direct measures" includes all decisions other than instructions for court proceedings or no action, i.e. fiscal fines, compensation offers, combined fiscal fine and compensation offers, diversions, work orders, warnings and referrals to the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration. It is notable that a significant proportion of the charges of this type received by COPFS and dealt with by direct measures were referred to the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (1,848 in 2007-08, 1,284 in 2008-09, and 861 in 2009-10).

  The information is presented below using court jurisdictions as the COPFS database does not contain information to identify parliamentary constituency boundaries and court jurisdictions do not match parliamentary boundaries.

  Charges: Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, Section 52(1)

  

Court Jurisdiction
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Aberdeen
236
427
282


Airdrie
93
137
86


Alloa
81
49
46


Arbroath
32
89
50


Ayr
133
245
106


Banff
4
14
23


Campbeltown
18
23
12


Cupar
120
107
36


Dingwall
41
54
35


Dornoch
9
2
8


Dumbarton
223
86
98


Dumfries
59
72
133


Dundee
82
137
107


Dunfermline
169
199
120


Dunoon
3
4
42


Duns
10
31
24


Edinburgh
255
318
165


Elgin
47
98
48


Falkirk
111
141
183


Forfar
36
54
56


Fort William
17
35
20


Glasgow
553
511
596


Greenock
119
50
94


Haddington
95
8
19


Hamilton
195
178
154


Inverness
82
122
91


Jedburgh
22
81
20


Kilmarnock
359
313
162


Kirkcaldy
262
316
193


Kirkcudbright
7
18
25


Kirkwall
18
36
9


Lanark
17
44
18


Lerwick
55
25
18


Livingston
28
136
158


Lochmaddy
3
5
4


Oban
11
15
13


Paisley
84
200
117


Peebles
16
7
10


Perth
78
105
100


Peterhead
56
62
60


Rothesay
20
1
10


Selkirk
19
21
52


Stirling
118
102
103


Stonehaven
56
34
18


Stornoway
17
46
27


Stranraer
12
23
20


Tain
35
27
22


Wick
52
29
124


COPFS Total as Direct Measures 
4,002
4,749
3,873


Charges reported under the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, Section 52(1)
17,740
15,679
14,536



  Notes:

  The information in this table has been extracted from COPF’s case management database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

Local Government

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given direction to local authorities regarding the compilation and maintenance of a comprehensive record of common good assets.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government wrote to all local authorities in 2007 to remind them of their responsibilities under accounting codes of practice, best value guidance and statute in respect of their management of common good funds and assets. In addition, accounting guidelines set out in the Local Authority Scotland Accounts Advisory Committee (LASAAC) document Accounting for the Common Good fund: A Guidance Note for Practitioners (December 2007) makes a clear requirement for Local Authorities to put in place Common Good Asset Registers by March 2009.

Local Government

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering imposing a legal duty on local authorities to compile and maintain a record of common good assets

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is not considering a legal duty on local authorities to compile and maintain a record of common good assets. Guidance issued by the Local Authority Scotland Accounts Advisory Committee (LASAAC) makes a clear requirement for local authorities to have in place Common Good Asset Registers. Audit Scotland reported that local authorities have generally taken reasonable steps to comply with the guidance. Audit Scotland will continue to monitor progress as part of their annual audit process.

Local Government

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that an amendment to the Public Records (Scotland) Bill would be an appropriate vehicle for imposing a requirement on local authorities to compile and maintain a comprehensive record of common good assets.

John Swinney: The Public Records (Scotland) Bill provides a general framework for the management of records by named public authorities in Scotland which should apply to all types of records created and held by those authorities and contractors which provide functions on their behalf. It does not deal with specific types of records and therefore it is not appropriate to amend it to impose a specific requirement on local authorities to compile and maintain a comprehensive record of common good assets.

  The bill imposes a duty on named public authorities to produce and implement a records management plan. An important element of a plan will be a retention and disposal schedule which sets out minimum retention periods and disposal actions for specific types of records created and held by an authority.

Mortality

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason Scotland had an in-hospital mortality rate following coronary artery bypass grafting of 2.2% between 2006 and 2008 compared with 1.8% in England and 1.1% in Wales.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Coronary Revascularisation Register (SCRR) has monitored Scottish coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) outcomes since 1996. Its data are thought to be more accurate than those of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, on which the Question is based. According to the SCRR, CABG inpatient mortality in Scotland between 2006 and 2008 was 1.6%.

  When making comparisons between countries it is important to bear in mind factors such as the variation between definitions used in monitoring performance, patient profiling and patient selection. Severity of disease, co-morbidities and age are also important factors in patient selection and can affect clinical outcomes.

  When comparing SCRR reports over time and between countries, Scotland has demonstrated ongoing improvement and clinical outcomes very much in line with the rest of the UK and Europe.

NHS Procurement

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of developing Procurement Scotland’s national multi-supplier ranked framework agreement for insulin pumps and related consumables.

Nicola Sturgeon: Procurement Scotland is the Scottish Government’s centre for procurement expertise covering cross sectoral commodity strategies and contracts. NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division works closely with the Scottish Government on all aspects of procurement. As this purchasing strategy related to the health sector, it fell to NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division to agree, develop and award the contract.

  This project is one of approximately 200 contracts currently managed by National Procurement’s Strategic Sourcing team. The combined annual expenditure of these contracts is some £700 million, however, the costs of developing individual contracts are not calculated separately.

NHS Procurement

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its original estimate was of the savings that would be made had all NHS boards purchased insulin pumps and related consumables from the first ranked preferred supplier identified in Procurement Scotland’s multi-supplier ranked framework agreement in each of the last three years.

Nicola Sturgeon: Procurement Scotland is the Scottish Government’s centre for procurement expertise covering cross sectoral commodity strategies and contracts. NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division works closely with the Scottish Government on all aspects of procurement. As this purchasing strategy related to the health sector, it fell to NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division to agree, develop and award the contract.

  This framework agreement commenced on 1 November 2009, therefore, it is not possible to provide figures for the last three years. The initial framework agreement estimated savings opportunities of £278,000 per annum. This represented the maximum opportunity available using the anticipated purchase of 349 insulin pumps per annum and associated consumables of which, 90% would be applied to the first ranked supplier.

NHS Procurement

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what savings were made by those NHS boards that purchased insulin pumps and related consumables from the first ranked preferred supplier identified in Procurement Scotland’s multi-supplier ranked framework agreement in each of the last three years.

Nicola Sturgeon: Procurement Scotland is the Scottish Government’s centre for procurement expertise covering cross sectoral commodity strategies and contracts. NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division works closely with the Scottish Government on all aspects of procurement. As this purchasing strategy related to the health sector, it fell to NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division to agree, develop and award the contract.

  This framework agreement commenced on 1 November 2009, therefore, it is not possible to provide figures for the last three years. The terms of the insulin pumps and consumables multi-supplier ranked framework agreement indicate that NHS boards must consider the use of the first ranked supplier in the first instance, and then the second and third ranked suppliers dependant on meeting clinical needs. Two NHS boards purchased a total of eleven insulin pumps and related consumables from the first ranked supplier which achieved savings of £1,100.

NHS Procurement

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional savings would have been achieved had all NHS boards purchased insulin pumps and related consumables from the first ranked preferred supplier identified in Procurement Scotland’s multi-supplier ranked framework agreement in each of the last three years.

Nicola Sturgeon: Procurement Scotland is the Scottish Government’s centre for procurement expertise covering cross sectoral commodity strategies and contracts. NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division works closely with the Scottish Government on all aspects of procurement. As this purchasing strategy related to the health sector, it fell to NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division to agree, develop and award the contract.

  This framework agreement commenced on 1 November 2009, therefore, it is not possible to provide figures for the last three years. However, a total of 187 insulin pumps and related consumables were purchased by NHS boards during the first year of the framework agreement. Should all of these pumps have been purchased through the first ranked supplier the additional savings opportunity is estimated to be in the region of £67,000. However, procurement of the insulin pumps is based on clinical need and this has resulted in NHS boards purchasing supplies from the other ranked suppliers.

NHS Procurement

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of purchases by NHS boards under Procurement Scotland’s multi-supplier ranked framework agreement, broken down by (a) board and (b) ranked supplier, in each of the last three years.

Nicola Sturgeon: Procurement Scotland is the Scottish Government’s centre for procurement expertise covering cross sectoral commodity strategies and contracts. NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division works closely with the Scottish Government on all aspects of procurement. As this purchasing strategy related to the health sector, it fell to NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division to agree, develop and award the contract.

  This framework agreement commenced on 1 November 2009, therefore, it is not possible to provide figures for the last three years. However, the following table provides details of purchases by NHS boards under the multi-supplier ranked framework agreement for insulin pumps and related consumables between 1 November 2009 and 31 October 2010.

  

NHS Board
Roche (Rank 1)
Medtronic (Rank 2)
Animas (Rank 3)


Ayrshire and Arran
10
6
 


Borders
 
7
 


Fife
1
29
7


Forth Valley
 
7
 


Greater Glasgow and Clyde
 
22
 


Grampian
 
3
1


Highland
 
11
 


Lanarkshire
 
1
 


Lothian
 
45
 


Tayside
 
34
3


Total
11
165
11



  Source: NHS National Services Scotland.

  Under the terms of this multi-supplier ranked framework, NHS boards should give consideration of using the first ranked supplier. However, if this pump does not meet the clinical requirements of the patient, then the suppliers ranked second then third can be considered. Decisions relating to the clinical requirements of patients are made at a local NHS board level.

NHS Procurement

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many more insulin pumps would have been provided to eligible patients if the expected savings from Procurement Scotland’s multi-supplier ranked framework agreement had been implemented in full by all NHS boards.

Nicola Sturgeon: Procurement Scotland is the Scottish Government’s centre for procurement expertise covering cross sectoral commodity strategies and contracts. NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division works closely with the Scottish Government on all aspects of procurement. As this purchasing strategy related to the health sector, it fell to NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division to agree, develop and award the contract.

  The terms of the insulin pumps and consumables multi-supplier ranked framework agreement indicate that NHS boards must consider the use of the first ranked supplier in the first instance, and then the second and third ranked suppliers dependant on meeting clinical needs. On the assumption that each insulin pump and the related consumables were purchased based on the clinical need of patients, it is not possible to say if there would be any further savings achieved for reinvestment in more pumps.

NHS Procurement

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers Procurement Scotland has to influence the procurement decisions of NHS boards in purchasing insulin pumps and associated consumables in light of the development of a national multi-supplier ranked framework agreement.

Nicola Sturgeon: Procurement Scotland is the Scottish Government’s centre for procurement expertise covering cross sectoral commodity strategies and contracts. NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division works closely with the Scottish Government on all aspects of procurement. As this purchasing strategy related to the health sector, it fell to NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division to agree, develop and award the contract.

  NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division works closely with all NHS boards to ensure that purchasing decisions are made with a view to securing the best possible value for NHSScotland. Details of the potential savings and actual saving achieved are also provided to individual NHS boards to positively influence future procurement decisions.

NHS Procurement

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning to strengthen the powers of Procurement Scotland to ensure that NHS boards realise the full estimated savings from the development of a national multi-supplier ranked framework agreement.

Nicola Sturgeon: Procurement Scotland is the Scottish Government’s centre for procurement expertise covering cross sectoral commodity strategies and contracts. NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division works closely with the Scottish Government on all aspects of procurement.

  NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division works closely with the Scottish Government to ensure that national contracts are fully utilised, taking into account issues of complexity, clinical requirement, choice and value for money. National Procurement Division will continue to demonstrate the benefits of national multi-supplier ranked framework agreements to NHS boards and will seek justification for opting out of national collaborative arrangements should this occur.

  NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division has been very successful in securing best value in procurement, recording over £90 million in savings in the current three-year efficient government programme for 2008-11.

NHS Procurement

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take to secure compliance by NHS boards with Procurement Scotland’s guidance on securing the best value in procurement.

Nicola Sturgeon: Procurement Scotland is the Scottish Government’s centre for procurement expertise covering cross sectoral commodity strategies and contracts. NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division works closely with the Scottish Government on all aspects of procurement.

  NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division has responsibility for identifying collaborative procurement opportunities across all NHS boards. NHS boards are required to formally assess specific requirements based upon clinical, operational or organisational needs. Information on uptake and compliance to national contracts is routinely collected and shared across NHS boards to ensure best value. Additionally, the annual activity from the pan public sector Procurement Capability Assessment seeks evidence and records performance against national and local contracting arrangements. These results are shared across all NHS boards and the wider Scottish public sector.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies for (a) consultants and (b) middle grade staff there were in NHS Lanarkshire in each of the last 12 quarters in (i) all specialties and (ii) accident and emergency departments, broken down by hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on staff within NHSScotland is held by Information Services Division (ISD) which collects a variety of information on staff in post across all NHS staff groups, including vacancy information. This data is published online by ISD as at 30 September each year.

Post Office

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what payments have been made from its Post Office Diversification Fund.

Jim Mather: £116,340.46 has been paid out from the Post Office Diversification Fund for Scotland so far.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the importance of the role played by prison visiting committees in opening up prisons to wider scrutiny.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government launched a formal consultation on 14 January, to gather evidence on the most effective, and efficient way of providing independent monitoring of prisons across Scotland.

  We will take a view on the future of independent monitoring once the consultation concludes on 25 February.

Procurement

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37964 by John Swinney on 15 December 2010, whether it will urge the UK Government to withdraw from the Government Procurement Agreement or to amend it to allow the application of ethical criteria in procurement decisions, for example to implement boycotts against countries that are in breach of international law.

John Swinney: The UK’s membership of the World Trade Organization’s Government Procurement Agreement allows Scottish businesses certain rights to participate in competitive tendering opportunities in those international markets covered by the agreement; withdrawal from the agreement may result in Scottish businesses being denied access to these markets. There are no current plans to urge the UK Government to withdraw from the agreement or to amend it to implement boycotts against other parties to the agreement.

Public Transport

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many buses ran between Coatbridge and Glasgow on each day from 29 November to 8 December 2010.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold detailed information on bus service operations centrally including those between Coatbridge and Glasgow. We expect bus services to run to their registered timetables, albeit that we are well aware of the severe weather experienced during part of this period. Specific concerns about services should be referred to the Traffic Commissioner at The Stamp Office, 10 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3EG.

Scots Language

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to Scots language education in each year since 1990.

Michael Russell: We do not hold a full breakdown of funding for Scots language education since 1990.

  Today, the value of Scots is recognised within the Curriculum for Excellence guidance, which indicates teachers should promote and encourage the use of Scots in developing young people’s literacy skills. In order to support practitioners with this, our ongoing programme funding for Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) across a number of curriculum areas has enabled the production of Scots resources, including the Scotland’s Songs and Stories website and the online Scots Knowledge of Language Module.

  Other recent funding which supports Scots language education includes the provision of £8.6 million to the National Trust for Scotland to develop the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, due to open in January 2011, which will be the first development in the country to use the Scots language to explain its collection. Also, the Scots Language Centre and Scottish Language Dictionaries, have been in receipt of funding since 2009-10, with £70,000 provided in 2009-10 and 2010-11 for to the Scots Language Centre and £200,000 in 2009-10 and 2010-11 for the Scottish Language Dictionaries.

Scots Language

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding will be allocated to Scots language education in 2011-12.

Michael Russell: Our commitment to national languages will remain in the financial year 2011-12, including the place of Scots within Curriculum for Excellence. We expect to continue supporting educational practitioners on Scots through our continued programme funding for Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS).

  We are considering the recommendations of the recently published Scots Language Working Group report, including those relating to education, and I will meet with LTS shortly to consider the implications for their work.

Scottish Government Agencies

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37254 by John Swinney on 22 November 2010, what the contracted hours are for each job role listed.

John Swinney: Scottish Government employees, including members of the Senior Civil Service (which includes the Scottish Prison Service and Transport Scotland representatives on the Infrastructure Investment Group) are required to work a minimum (over a five day week) of 42 hours, including daily meal breaks of one hour. All staff can apply to work a flexible working pattern subject to business needs.

  In addition, in accordance with their contract of employment, all Senior Civil Servants are required to work such additional hours as may from time to time be reasonable and necessary for the efficient performance of their duties.

  Information on the contracted hours for employees of the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Futures Trust are the responsibility of these bodies, and are not held centrally.

Weather

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many calls NHS24 has received during the recent severe weather and how this compares with normal call levels.

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of calls to NHS24 during the recent severe weather was answered within 30 seconds.

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of calls to NHS24 during the recent severe weather that were deemed GP priority was responded to within 20 minutes.

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of calls to NHS24 during the recent severe weather that were deemed GP routine was responded to within 60 minutes.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS 24 received 99,407 calls over the period of severe weather between 27 November 2010 and 23 December 2010, this is in line with expected call levels for that time period. 95.17% of those calls were answered within 30 seconds.

  99.97% of calls requiring a priority GP response were responded to within 20 minutes and 99.70% of calls requiring a routine GP response were responded to within 60 minutes.

Wildlife

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations from Scottish Natural Heritage regarding the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill since its introduction and whether it will publish any such written representations.

Roseanna Cunningham: There are regular and frequent exchanges between Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage, as statutory adviser on natural heritage, on all aspects of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill. We are not planning to publish these exchanges.

Wildlife

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many beavers have been captured in Tayside as a result of efforts by Scottish Natural Heritage and Tayside Police and where they have been relocated to.

Roseanna Cunningham: One beaver has been recaptured in Tayside by Scottish Natural Heritage in December 2010. This beaver has been relocated to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.

Wildlife

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the recent efforts by Scottish Natural Heritage and Tayside Police to capture and relocate beavers found in Tayside.

Roseanna Cunningham: Species reintroduction programmes in Scotland are carried out in accordance with best scientific practice and principles as set out in international guidelines, to limit the risk of unforeseen environmental damage and to address the concerns of a wide range of stakeholders. The Scottish Government supports efforts to re-establish beavers in Scotland through a properly constituted reintroduction project involving local consultation and with proper management and monitoring arrangements in place. In the case of the feral beaver populations, these conditions have not been met, and therefore risk undermining the longer term re-introduction project.

Wildlife

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has identified the species of the beaver populations found in Tayside.

Roseanna Cunningham: Work is ongoing through the laboratories of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland to establish the species and form of the beaver which has been captured but the results of this work are not available yet.

Wildlife

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recent efforts by Scottish Natural Heritage and Tayside Police to capture and relocate beavers found in Tayside resulted from concerns regarding invasive non-native species and, if so, what assessment has been made of the animals’ potential impact and how the results of the assessment compare with those of any similar assessments in relation to the animals involved in the Scottish Beaver Trial.

Roseanna Cunningham: Beavers are a former native species which is no longer ordinarily resident in Scotland. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38451 on 19 January 2011 for the justification of the recapture project. No assessment of the potential impact of these animals has been made. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Wildlife

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive in what way its experiences of beaver populations in Tayside and in the Scottish Beaver Trial have influenced the proposals in the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill concerning invasive non-native species and natural range.

Roseanna Cunningham: The experiences of dealing with the beaver populations have not had a bearing on the proposals concerning invasive non-native species. Under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill the release of beavers, or any other former native species, into the wild will require to be licensed and keeping could be regulated if considered appropriate.

Wildlife

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) timetable and (b) launch date is for the publication and promotion of the hen harrier conservation framework report by the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme partnership.

Roseanna Cunningham: When the report is published, a copy will be made available to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee. Scottish Natural Heritage have assured me that this will be before the Parliament has completed consideration of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill.

Wildlife

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the contents of the hen harrier conservation framework report have been made available to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee and, if not, whether the report will be published before the Parliament has completed consideration of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill.

Roseanna Cunningham: The report in question, A conservation framework for hen harriers in the UK , includes data from the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme and other monitoring work. It has been prepared for the UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the publication is being co-ordinated by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

  I understand that SNH have arranged meetings for late January 2011 with stakeholders to discuss the science and outcomes of the report. A date for formal publication will be set following these meetings but it is anticipated that report will be published in early 2011.